My cousin noticed some missing mortar near the top rows of bricks of my chimney. Is that serious or no?
Answer
It can be, especially near the top of a chimney where it’s exposed to rain, snow and Michigan freeze-and-thaw cycles. Missing mortar gives water an easier way to get into the chimney. Once water gets in and freezes, it can cause more mortar to loosen and bricks to crack or deteriorate. If it’s only a small area, it may just need some tuckpointing instead of a larger repair. We’d recommend having it looked at before another winter makes a smaller problem bigger.
